Macpower & Tytech TVisto User manual

TVisto
User Guide & Manual

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October 2007
Congratulations on buying your TVisto Multimedia Center.
The TVisto is a Digital Multimedia Player as well as Data Storage Solution that you can
connect to any PC or Mac, either via USB 2.0 or FireWire 400 (plug & play) in order to copy
your favourite content (music, movies, pictures, and/or data files). Once you have transferred
your data to the TVisto, you can connect it to any TV set to enjoy your movies, music, and
photos. You can watch your favourite films in top quality video and Dolby Digital audio.
The TVisto is designed for a single 3.5” desktop size hard drive, offering plenty of storage
capacity.
This document will provide you with full and comprehensive instructions on how to use your
TVisto and benefit from its unique features.
Please start reading the “TVisto Features” chapter in order to have an overview of the
enhanced capabilities of your device. A more technical description of these features is
presented in the “Specifications” chapter.
Before using the TVisto, be sure that you have received the complete set of accessories by
checking the “Package Contents” section.
To have a detailed description of the TVisto’s functionality, read the “PC/MAC Connection” and
“TV Connection” chapters in order to explore the full set of operations.
In order to maintain your TVisto device in safe operating conditions and to guarantee life
extension, please read the “Safety Information” section.
The TVisto is not designed or intended to, and may not be used to violate any
copyrights or other IP (Intellectual Property) rights. Each user of the TVisto may only
use it in connection with materials legally owned by or licensed to the user and only
extend such ownership or license rights that will permit such use.
The diagrams and images contained in this manual may not fully represent the product that you are using and are there for illustration
purposes only
All rights reserved. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Macintosh, Mac, Mac OS are registered trademarks of Apple
Computer, Inc. DivX®Certified and DivX® Video are registered trademarks of DivX Networks, Inc. Dolby® and Dolby® Digital are registered
trademarks of Dolby Laboratories, Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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Table of Contents
FEATURES OF THE TVISTO..................................................................................................1
EXCLUSIVE DESIGN....................................................................................................................1
PC CONNECTION........................................................................................................................2
TV CONNECTION ........................................................................................................................2
AUDIO FEATURES ....................................................................................................................... 2
VIDEO FEATURES ....................................................................................................................... 2
MULTILINGUAL............................................................................................................................ 2
REMOTE ....................................................................................................................................3
FIRMWARE UPDATE....................................................................................................................3
FORMATTING THE HDD.........................................................................................................4
FORMATTING ON WINDOWS........................................................................................................4
FORMATTING ON MAC OS X.......................................................................................................4
CREATING THE DIRECTORIES.............................................................................................5
FONT SUPPORT..........................................................................................................................5
COMPUTER CONNECTION....................................................................................................6
SAFE REMOVAL .........................................................................................................................7
TV CONNECTION....................................................................................................................8
ANALOGUE AUDIO SETUP ..........................................................................................................9
DIGITAL AUDIO SETUP ...............................................................................................................9
THE REMOTE CONTROL ...........................................................................................................10
UNIQUE CONTROL KEYS........................................................................................................... 13
MENU FUNCTIONS...............................................................................................................14
MAIN MENU.............................................................................................................................. 14
MOVIES ................................................................................................................................... 14
MUSIC ..................................................................................................................................... 15
PICTURES ................................................................................................................................16
SETTINGS ................................................................................................................................17
BACKGROUND IMAGES ............................................................................................................. 20
FILE FORMATS.....................................................................................................................21
.ISO ........................................................................................................................................21
XVID........................................................................................................................................21
DIVX®.....................................................................................................................................22
DIVX® VOD ............................................................................................................................22
SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................................................................23
PACKAGE CONTENTS.........................................................................................................24
STANDARD PACKAGE...............................................................................................................24
OPTIONAL CABLES AND ACCESSORIES ....................................................................................24
SAFETY INFORMATION.......................................................................................................25
POWER ON/OFF PRECAUTIONS..................................................................................................25
LOCATION AND PLACING PRECAUTIONS ....................................................................................25
ELECTRICITY AND POWER PLUG................................................................................................25
CABLES...................................................................................................................................25
FAQ........................................................................................................................................26

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1
Everything you love about multimedia, movies,
music, and photos is brought to you with the
TVisto.
The TVisto features an elegant, fashionable,
and high quality case to protect your device.
The buttons on the front panel of the TVisto
offer quick access to basic functions for the
multimedia player, even without the remote
control. Conveniently located on the top is the
power on/off switch, with following indicative
colours:
•TV mode: blue when power-on and red
when in stand-by mode. It “blinks” (red
intervals) to confirm a command, whenever
a button on the remote control is pressed.
•PC mode: blue when power-on
On the rear panel, there are following
interfaces:
•FireWire 400: IEEE 1394a connection for
data transfer (supports daisy chain)
•USB 2.0: High Speed USB 2.0 connection
for data transfer
•TV Multi-Connector: Analogue
Audio/Video. This multi-pin connector
provides all the video and analogue audio
signals for your TV set.
•SPDIF: Digital audio output for copper
coaxial or optical cable
•Mini DIN Jack: Power supply
Features of the TVisto
Exclusive Design
15.2 cm
4.8 cm
SPDIF
USB 2.0
TV Multi-Connector
FireWire 400
Mini DIN Jack
22.2 cm

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PC connection
The TVisto can be connected to any PC or Mac via USB or FireWire interface, supporting the
following file formats: FAT32, NTFS, HFS+. With high speed USB or FireWire connection,
you can quickly move large multimedia files from your computer to the TVisto. Please note
that you will always need an external power adaptor.
TV connection
The TVisto provides the optimum multimedia quality in both audio and video outputs when
connected to your TV set and audio system.
Audio features
•Audio file formats supported: WMA, WAV, MP3, MPEG-4 (AAC), AC3 (Dolby Digital),
OGG Vorbis.
Note: Does not support AAC files from Apple’s media player iTunes.
•Audio Output Formats: Dual Stereo analogue audio, Coaxial/SPDIF digital Audio
(supports compressed Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS pass through).
Video features
•Video file formats supported: MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (AVI, VOB, ISO),
MPEG-4 (AVI, DivX, DivX VOD, XviD).
Note: Does not support high definition media files (HD) such as WMV9 or DivX HD and
does not support GMC or Qpel.
•Video Output Formats: NTSC/PAL composite and S-video, Analogue YPbPr video
(progressive or interlaced) scalable up to 1920x1080i or 1280x720p. RGB via SCART.
VGA scalable up to 1024x768.
DivX compatibility
Supports DivX 3.11, 4.x, 5.x, 6.x
Supports external text subtitles; SUB (MicroDVD format), SRT (SubRIP format), SMI (SAMI
format)
Supports any language text subtitles (external font required).
Please refer to the “File Formats” chapter for more details.
XviD compatibility
Please refer to the “File Formats” chapter for more details.
DVD (.ISO) compatibility
ISO=One Image file backup of the complete DVD.
The TVisto will play the ISO file exactly the same as if it was running from the original DVD.
Supports .ISO of any size (FAT32/up to 4GB, NTFS/unlimited, HFS+/unlimited).
Supports any language subtitles.
Only with the TVisto can you create your own Virtual DVD Library by storing your private
collection of DVDs (.ISO format) and watch them as if they were running from the original
DVDs. Please refer to the “File Formats” chapter for more details.
Multilingual
The TVisto has been designed to meet everyone’s expectations. With sophisticated Unicode
character handling, it supports most of the major languages used in the menu selection and
the subtitle feature. Refer to “Font Support” for further details.
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Remote
The TVisto is equipped with an elegant infrared remote control, providing standard DVD
functionality buttons and more. Please refer to the chapter “TV Connection” for a detailed
description of the remote control.
Firmware update
You will be able to upgrade your device with new features and capabilities by following the
firmware1upgrade procedure:
•Get the latest update from your vendor’s web site.
•Connect the TVisto to your computer and copy the firmware file to the “firmware”
folder.
•Connect the TVisto to the TV and choose “Firmware Update” from Settings.
•Wait a few minutes for the new firmware to be updated.
•Never disconnect or turn off your unit before the firmware has been completely
updated!!
•Turn off the TVisto by disconnecting the power supply, wait a few seconds, and then
connect the power supply again. Wait a few seconds and your TVisto will appear.
•Done!
Powerful Media Processor
The heart of your TVisto device is a powerful media processor supporting the demanding
MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (AVI, VOB, ISO) and MPEG-4 (AVI, DivX, XviD) decoding.
Enjoy
The TVisto is the ultimate Digital Multimedia Centre that can be addressed to a wide variety
of users:
•Home users who want to build a state-of-the-art, versatile home theatre.
•Stores, Agencies, Exhibitors, and Companies that want audio/visual promotions of
their products (indoor advertising).
•Business people who want to have a presentation.
•Parents who want to back-up and replay their family videos.
•Movie and music lovers who want to enjoy their favourites at all times.
•People downloading large numbers of movies and music from the internet.
•Everyone who wants to organize their stack of CDs & DVDs.
•Parents who want to create a “DVD/CD-safe” environment.
•DivX enthusiasts that want to enjoy their DivX/MPEG4 videos with exceptional Dolby
Digital (AC3) sound.
•Every computer fan owning a TV, home theatre, or other A/V equipment.
1Firmware is the software stored in the TVisto flash memory that contains the programs running in
your device. These programs remain stored even when the system is switched off.

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Formatting the HDD
For brand new hard drives, a partition has to be created first and it has to be formatted. Be
aware that formatting the drive will erase all existing data on it! Connect the drive via USB or
FireWire connection to your computer and turn it on.
Formatting on Windows
Using Disk Management:
•Right click “My Computer”
and choose “Manage”
•Select “Disk Management”
•Choose the drive you want
to format and right click on
the disk or drive field for
further commands
•Create a primary NTFS
partition (basic disk) and
format it by following the
partition wizard
For Win2000, WinXP and Vista,
we recommend formatting the
drive using the NTFS file
system.
Note: If you are using the FAT32 file system to format the drive on Win2000, WinXP or
Vista, the biggest single partition you can create will be 32GB. To create larger
partitions, you need to use a 3rd party application. The file size for a single file on
FAT32 is limited to 4GB!
Formatting on Mac OS X
Use the Disk Utility to format
your drive and create a single
partition on your external disk.
•Select “Disk Utility” in the
utilities folder
•Choose your external drive
and format it according to
your requirements.
•For Mac OS X, we
recommend creating one
single partition and
formatting it using “Mac OS
Extended”
Note: For Mac OS X, we recommend formatting the drive using its native file system
HFS+ (Mac OS Extended). If you are using the FAT32 file system (MS-DOS), it will also
be compatible with Windows but the file size for a single file is limited to 4GB!
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Creating the Directories
For the TVisto to be able to find the files on the hard drive, four (4) folders with the exact
names shown below must be created first! NONE of the prerequisite folders should ever
be deleted or renamed, because your TVisto uses these exact names as a reference to
locate the respective files. Inside these folders you can have any sub-directories that are
convenient to you. Create the folders as shown below, now.
“Firmware”: This folder is
used for the TVisto
firmware files during an
upgrade
Depending on your setup,
you can create two more
subfolders inside of it:
•“Font”: For an additional
font if your language is
not supported (not
required for English and
most European
languages).
•“Settings”: Create a text
file called “Settings.txt”
and store it inside that
folder if you want to
change the text for the
screen saver message. This file has to be a Unicode text file with two strings. The first line
is the default TV mode (PAL or NTSC) if the setting has not yet been applied via the
Settings menu. The second line is the string used for the screen saver, which is user
editable but should not contain more than 16 letters. If not required, leave the folder empty.
“Movies”: This folder will contain your video files.
“Music”: This folder will contain your music files.
“Pictures”: This folder will contain your image files.
“AutoBoot”: Optional folder for video files (AVI & MPG) to be played at boot up. Only create
this folder when you are actually using this function.
Note: If you need a directory to transfer your files from one computer to another, you may
create more directories and name it whatever you like. These folders won’t affect the TVisto
media player but will NOT show up on your TV screen!
Font Support
For additional font support other than English or the already supported European languages,
we recommend copying the ‘Arial Unicode MS’ font to the “Font” folder located in the
“Firmware” directory. On a PC, you can find this font by going to the Control Panel and then
selecting Fonts. After copying the font to the TVisto, rename the file “font.ttf”.
Example: If the original file name is “arialuni.ttf,” rename it “font.ttf”. You may use any other
Unicode true type font (TTF) you have or whatever is available on the internet, but remember
to rename the file “font.ttf’ after copying it to the TVisto.
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Computer Connection
The TVisto operates as a standard USB mass storage or FireWire hard disk when connected
to a computer. Use the included cables to connect your device to the computer system.
Always connect the USB or FireWire cable to your computer first, before you turn on the
device. Your system will automatically recognise the TVisto as external hard drive in which
you then can copy any file(s) you want (music, movie, picture, and/or data). It is strongly
recommended to empty the “Recycle Bin” after your file(s) deletion, in order to free up
the HDD space and make sure old files have been erased.
The TVisto supports following file formats: FAT32 (Windows & Mac) NTFS (Windows) and
HFS+ (Mac). If your computer system does not have a FireWire or USB 2.0 interface but only
a slower USB 1.1 connection, you will receive a warning but can still use the device.
NOTE: You will always need the external power adapter when connected to the
computer. The ON/OFF switch is located at the rear of the unit. When connected to the
computer, the ON/OFF button on the front is not in use.
NOTE: NONE of the prerequisite folders should ever be deleted or renamed, because
your TVisto uses these exact names as a reference to locate the respective files. Inside
these folders you can have any sub-directories that are convenient to you.
“Firmware”: This is the folder in which you can copy the latest TVisto firmware files when
there is a new upgrade available. Inside this folder, you may create two optional subfolders:
•“Font” for your external Unicode true type font.
•“Settings” for the “Settings.txt” file, which includes your screen saver text.
“Movies”: Store all your favourite video clips and movies inside this folder.
“Music”: Store all your favourite music files inside this folder.
“Pictures”: Store all your favourite images and photos inside this folder.
NOTE: Media files stored in different locations will not be recognised by the media
player when it is connected to the TV.
To backup your files or to transfer data between different computers and platforms, you may
create as many new folders in the root directory as you like. These will not affect the TVisto
media player and also won’t be seen on the TV screen.
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Safe Removal
In order to safely remove the TVisto from your system, please follow the same procedures as
for any external Plug & Play device.
PC
Double click on the taskbar icon to “Unplug or
Eject hardware”. The adjacent dialogue box will
appear, displaying the external Plug & Play
devices. In the current example, you can see the
TVisto as a USB Mass Storage Device.
In order to remove it, click the device in the list
and then click Stop.
Click OK on the next dialogue box. The
operating system will automatically stop the
device and inform you for its safe removal. If you
are using the TVisto (e.g. you are working on
Word document or a picture located in its disk
the operating system will notify you that it is
unable to remove the device. In this case, clos
all the applications affecting or accessing the
TVisto and
a
),
e
try again.
Mac
Drag the drive icon into the trash bin
to eject and remove the drive.
Note: Always follow the safe removal process when disconnecting the device or it
might not be recognised on the TV.